登陆注册
5378800000002

第2章 The Monroe Doctrine (2)

Between the two camps, both in her ideas and in her geographical situation, stood England.Devoted as she was to law and order, bulwark against the excesses of the French Terror and the world dominion that Napoleon sought, she was nevertheless equally strong in her opposition to Divine Right.Her people and her government alike were troubled at the repressive measured by which the Allies put down the Revolution of Naples in 1821 and that of Spain in 1823.Still more were they disturbed at the hint given at the Congress of Verona in 1822 that, when Europe was once quieted, America would engage the attention of Europe's arbiters.George Canning, the English foreign minister, soon discovered that this hint foreshadowed a new congress to be devoted especially to the American problem.Spain was to be restored to her sovereignty, but was to pay in liberal grants of American territory to whatever powers helped her.Canning is regarded as the ablest English foreign minister of the nineteenth century; at least no one better embodied the fundamental aspirations of the English people.He realized that liberal England would be perpetually a minority in a united Europe, as Europe was then organized.He believed that the best security for peace was not a union but a balance of powers.He opposed intervention in the internal affairs of nations and stood for the right of each to choose its own form of government.Particularly he fixed his eyes on America, where he hoped to find weight to help him balance the autocrats of the Old World.He wished to see the new American republics free, and he believed that in freedom of trade England would obtain from them all that she needed.

Alarmed at the impending European intervention to restore the rule of Spain or of her monarchical assignees in America, he sought an understanding with the United States.He proposed to Richard Rush, the United States minister in London, that the two countries declare concurrently that the independence of Spanish America, was a fact, that the recognition of the new governments was a matter of time and circumstance, that neither country desired any portion of Spain's former dominions, but that neither would look with indifference upon the transfer of any portion of them to another power.

On October 9, 1823, this proposal reached Washington.The answer would be framed by able and most experienced statesmen.The President, James Monroe, had been almost continuously in public service since 1782.He had been minister to France, Spain, and England, and had been Secretary of State.In his earlier missions he had often shown an unwise impetuosity and an independent judgment which was not always well balanced.He had, however, grown in wisdom.He inspired respect by his sterling qualities of character, and he was an admirable presiding officer.William H.

Crawford, his Secretary of the Treasury, John C.Calhoun, his Secretary of War, William Wirt, his Attorney-General, and even John McLean, his Postmaster-General, not then a member of the Cabinet, were all men who were considered as of presidential caliber.

Foremost in ability and influence, however, was John Quincy Adams, the Secretary of State.Brought up from early boyhood in the atmosphere of diplomacy, familiar with nearly every country of Europe, he had nevertheless none of those arts of suavity which are popularly associated with the diplomat.Short, baldheaded, with watery eyes, he on the one hand repelled familiarity, and on the other hand shocked some sensibilities, as for example when he appeared in midsummer Washington without a neckcloth.His early morning swim in the Potomac and his translations of Horace did not conquer a temper which embittered many who had business with him, while the nightly records which he made of his interviews show that he was generally suspicious of his visitors.Yet no American can show so long a roll of diplomatic successes.Preeminently he knew his business.His intense devotion and his native talent had made him a master of the theory and practice of international law and of statecraft.

Always he was obviously honest, and his word was relied on.

Fundamentally he was kind, and his work was permeated by a generous enthusiasm.Probably no man in America, had so intense a conviction not only of the correctness of American principles and the promise of American greatness but of the immediate strength and greatness of the United States as it stood in 1823.

Fully aware as Adams was of the danger that threatened both America and liberty, he was not in favor of accepting Canning's proposal for the cooperation of England and the United States.He based his opposition upon two fundamental objections.In the first place he was not prepared to say that the United States desired no more Spanish territory.Not that Adams desired or would tolerate conquest.At the time of the Louisiana Purchase he had wished to postpone annexation until the assent of the people of that province could be obtained.But he believed that all the territory necessary for the geographical completeness of the United States had not yet been brought under the flag.He had just obtained Florida from Spain and a claim westward to the Pacific north of the forty-second parallel, but he considered the Southwest--Texas, New Mexico, and California--a natural field of expansion.These areas, then almost barren of white settlers, he expected time to bring into the United States, and he also expected that the people of Cuba would ultimately rejoice to become incorporated in the Union.He wished natural forces to work out their own results, without let or hindrance.

同类推荐
  • 好人歌

    好人歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 画史会要

    画史会要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说一切如来名号陀罗尼经

    佛说一切如来名号陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 程杏轩医案

    程杏轩医案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 湘绮楼评词

    湘绮楼评词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 渭南市临渭区军事志

    渭南市临渭区军事志

    本志上限追溯公元前209年,下限迄于2005年。详今明古。以志为主、述、记、传、图、表、录并用。按章、节、目结构,横排竖写,以类系事。
  • 总裁抢妻夺爱36计

    总裁抢妻夺爱36计

    “男人,你简直坏透了!我们离婚!”蓝童恩把离婚协议书扔到妖孽男人眼前。“老婆,闹够了!”男人扔给她一个无聊的眼神。一个不留神,她竟敢带“球”跑了。多年后,他终于抓住了她:“女人,还我儿子!”“没有儿子!”“给我找到,孩子归我!”电话此时传来儿子的叫声:“妈妈,救我!我被人绑架了!”“谁绑架你了?”“一个和我长得一模一样的男人,他说是我爹地。”蓝童恩盯着眼前的妖孽男人,浑身冒着虚汗……
  • 好口才是设计出来的

    好口才是设计出来的

    《立信会计出版社去梯言—好口才是设计出来的》是一本训练与提高沟通技巧和语言水平的口才书。通过说话方式的设计、说话技巧的设计、交谈话题的设计、情感沟通的设计、肢体语言的设计、礼貌用语的设计、提升语言艺术和魅力的设计、出奇制胜的说服话术等内容,着重指出了生活常见场合中所运用的说话方法和技巧,帮助读者提高说话能力,拥有良好口才。掌握了书中所介绍的口才训练方法,相信你的爱情、事业和人际交往都会因丰富的语言艺术和卓越的表达能力而与众不同,生活也会因此而变得妙趣横生。
  • 2011年度诗歌排行榜

    2011年度诗歌排行榜

    滚石填塞去路。深深地下降然后以臂力攀升,如蚂蚁的影子在垂直天梯上匍匐、蜿蜒。野花如雾,涌上我的热泪。赤日蒸晒,峥嵘人间。有纵横之健翮坠亡,顷刻间被虫蚁食尽。石头扑向心,气息崚嶒而凌厉。
  • 青少年应该知道的五岳名山文化(阅读中华国粹)

    青少年应该知道的五岳名山文化(阅读中华国粹)

    中国名山甚多。古代帝王常常把五岳看成神的象征,虽然实际上它们仅仅是地质运动和自然风化的产物。但源远流长的五岳名山文化,早已成为中华民族特质的一部分。《阅读中华国粹:青少年应该知道的五岳名山文化》是一部记录中华国粹经典、普及中华文明的读物,又是一部兼具严肃性和权威性的中华文化典藏之作,可以说是学术性与普及性结合。
  • 天价农女不愁嫁

    天价农女不愁嫁

    在现代,她是令人闻风丧胆的仇杀队一姐,也是傲娇多变的全能女王。穿越到古代一个偏远村落的“三无”农女身上,家里土地被人侵占、房屋被人霸住、欠下一屁股债不说,还拖着一对古灵精怪的儿女。既然不知道回去的路,那就过好眼下的日子!夺回土地,抢回房屋;农业机械化,商品大酬宾;七大姑八大姨诸如此类的人来找茬,只不过是自寻欺辱,完全不是她的对手。她的终极目的,不过是把日子过得风生水起,把两个儿女养育成全能天才。可是,天才们在哪里捡了个爹爹回来?那长得跟花一样的男人还扬言要与她一起睡?等等!刚才她想怎么阻止他靠近来着?是敲昏他或是灌醉他还是卸掉他一只胳膊?怎么她记不起来了?为什么她一见到这个男人反应就各自迟钝呢?而且,哪条法律规定他只不过是在她肚子里落了个种就可以抢走她一对天才宝贝,这便宜也占大发了点吧?P:本文一对一,且男女主身心干净。女主自立自强,玩转古代;男主腹黑专情,不离不弃。有宠有虐有狗血,还有极品配角闪亮登场!宝贝们若是喜欢,请戳右边的“加入书架”。
  • 您的女友可二可萌

    您的女友可二可萌

    十五年前,他心灰意冷,一心求死,被一个小丫头救了,温暖了他的黑夜,他决定护她一世安乐无忧。然后,他亲眼看着小丫头死在了他的怀里,然后,他傻傻的踩着她的尸体去给她报仇。对不起,弄丢了你,对不起,伤了你,对不起,没认出你,只求你,不要再把我留在没有你的地狱里,从此以后,我会抱紧你,再也不撒手。某宝宝:“你谁啊!不认识你。”本宝当年用了十年,跋山涉水去找你,你它喵怎么说的,怎么回报我的?你就是忘恩负义,恩将仇报,狼心狗肺,我苏小北当年瞎了眼,救你。某狼心狗肺的男主,老婆说什么都是对的。
  • 农家俏商女

    农家俏商女

    “如意,如意,你在那里做什么?那里很危险,快点下来吧。”一道焦急的声音夹伴着哗啦啦的海浪声从礁石下方传了上来。上官楚楚,哦不,她现在的名字叫做郝如意。只是扭头望了下面的人儿一眼,随即又转过头,恢复刚刚的动作,眼瞳没有聚焦的望着海的那一边。过了半晌,身后传来呼呼呼的喘气声,身旁传来了暖暖的体温。郝前程挨着郝如意坐了下来,偏过头认真的打量着她,眉头轻蹙,疑惑的朝她看……
  • 居业录

    居业录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 礼仪天下:女性礼仪百宝箱

    礼仪天下:女性礼仪百宝箱

    本书主要从职场社交礼仪和生活社交礼仪两个方面,阐述女性在职场中如何通过个人的内在气质和外在形象来提升企业形象,从而提高工作效率;在生活中,如何有礼有节的处理好夫妻、孩子、父母等各种关系,使幸福指数节节高升。本书分上下篇共16个章节介绍女性如何在各个方面提升自身素养,做一个知礼干练、优雅幸福的女性,为你的幸福生活增添浓重的一笔。懂礼仪才能受欢迎;善交际才能得幸福。